Almost certain to come up well short of the net gain of 25 seats she needs to become Speaker again, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi has called party leadership elections for Nov. 29, well after the Nov. 6 election, setting off speculation across Washington that she may not run for leader again. More stories here and here and here.

House leaders usually call for leadership elections quickly to shore up support and thwart challengers.

Asked about the rumors, Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill referred to his earlier comments that they are “ridiculous.”

The 72-year-old San Francisco Democrat gave no indication of her plans in a conference call with her caucus Wednesday. Her daughter Alexandra Pelosi first fired up speculation that Pelosi might step down from the leadership last December when she said in an interview that her mother “would retire right now, if the donors she has didn’t want her to stay so badly.” Pelosi aides were quick to squelch that idea.

Pelosi was toppled as Speaker in the GOP 2010 landslide after a four-year run as the first female Speaker and highest ranking female politician in U.S. history. She has led House Democrats for 10 years, “the longest such stint in more than 50 years” according to The Hill newspaper. She raised $7.2 million for Democrats in September, holding 77 events in five states. There are plenty of ambitious younger pols such as Chris Van Hollen (MD) waiting in the wings to see what Pelosi does, as well as her former rival, Steny Hoyer, 73.

If Pelosi chooses to stay as minority leader, the job is probably hers. No one has come forward yet to challenger her. She celebrated her 25th year in Congress this year, and has promised to fill out the House term she is currently running for. She has not said publicly whether she wants to stay on as leader or how long she intends to stay in Congress.

In the meantime, another Bay Area Democrat with exactly the kind of safe seat that permits a leadership bid, is angling for the bottom rung of Vice Chair of the party caucus. Oakland Democrat Barbara Lee, who hauled in 83.1 percent of the vote in the June top-two primary, is running against Reps. Joe Crowley of New York and Jared Polis of Colorado.